Stories from Monday, February 4, 2019

AMES – There is a reason it may seem as if every television ad right now is a political one. Millions of dollars are spent to reach voters through this one medium, but does it pay off on Election Day? According to a new Iowa State University study of political advertising for the 2016 Iowa caucuses, the candidates who spent more on TV ads generally received more support on caucus night. ...

AMES – There is a reason it may seem as if every television ad right now is a political one. Millions of dollars are spent to reach voters through this one medium, but does it pay off on Election Day? According to a new Iowa State University study of political advertising for the 2016 Iowa caucuses, the candidates who spent more on TV ads generally received more support on caucus night. ...

On the evening of Thursday, January 31, at approximately 9:09 p.m. the Storm Lake Fire Department responded to Kings Pointe Resort located at 1520 East Lakeshore Drive in reference to an automated fire alarm. Upon arrival of fire fighters they determined that a sprinkler pipe in the entryway of the lodge froze and ruptured...

The Iowa Identity Theft Victim Assistance Coalition has unveiled a new Handout designed specifically for Iowa victims of identity theft. The Coalition is a public/nonprofit partnership of 21 Iowa law enforcement and other organizations. Among other things, the Handout’s advice includes immediate steps victims should take such as reporting the problem to law enforcement. ...

U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota were joined by Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa in sponsoring bipartisan legislation to bring down the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act would limit anticompetitive pay-for-delay deals that prevent or delay the introduction of affordable follow-on versions of branded pharmaceuticals. Grassley first introduced this legislation with Klobuchar in December of 2018...

Over the course of five years former Spencer resident Lynn Blomberg has gone from the operating table to the finish line. The 1981 Spencer High School graduate has completed 12 sprint triathlons, seven half-marathons, two full marathons, four Olympic distance triathlons and three 70.3 Iron Man triathlons at various locations across the country...

Special thanks to Dr. Nicole Boyle for putting on another wonderful essential oils class at The Meeting Place in Galva on January 29. Over a dozen ladies braved the cold temperatures to come in, learn about skin care, ask questions and enjoy a little spa night. ...

Janis Otto turns 70 years young on February 18, 2019! Let her know that you are thinking of her with a card sent to 1107 W. Highway, Alta, Iowa 51002.

LE MARS - A state investigator has testified that a mother on trial for murder after her infant was found dead in a maggot-infested diaper questioned her own maternal care during an interview. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Agent Chris Callaway testified Friday that 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris told him she had changed 4-month-old Sterling Koehn, given him a bottle and put him in a baby swing the day before he was found dead Aug. 30, 2017...

Buena Vista Community Theatre is preparing for its 2019 Summer Mainstage production, “Shrek The Musical.” Auditions will be held in April, with show dates June 14-16 and 21-23. stage director Tessa Baxter, Storm Lake, and music director Corbet Butler, Alta, will bring the show to life on the historic Roxy Theatre stage in Alta...

From Figaro to Frank…Forgettaboutit!!! Nationally-known singing act The Jersey Tenors will be coming to the Storm Lake Community Education Performing Art Series. The concert March 23 will be held at the Storm Lake High School auditorium, and tickets are available through the Community Ed office. Call 732-5711 for information...

Country star David Lee Murphy will be performing at the Hard Rock Resort in Sioux City, February 22. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are available now, starting at $27. Million-selling singer-songwriter David Lee Murphy had no plans to make a new record until a country superstar made them for him...

On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at approximately 2 p.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to the Hy-Vee Store Pharmacy Section on North Lake Avenue in reference to a theft. Upon arrival of police they met with the reporting party and were told by the reporting party that he had laid his wallet on a service counter and forgot it. ...

On the evening of Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at approximately 9 p.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to 317 East Lakeshore Drive in reference to a person making loud noises in an apartment house. Upon arrival of police they allegedly observed an adult male igniting and burning the paper of the drywall in the common entryway of the apartment house. Police further allege the subject was intoxicated...

Several arrests have been made in connection with a series of related disturbances which have occurred since Wednesday night, according to Storm Lake Police. Several person have been involved in an ongoing dispute which resulted in disturbances that police were called to twice Wednesday and once on Thursday. Officers allege that several people involved have made a series of threats including death threats...

The annual swing show will take place at Storm Lake High School Auditorium on Friday, February 8 at 7 p.m.. The concert will feature the junior high jazz band, the high school orchestra, the high school jazz choir and the high school jazz band. Admission is $5...

In last week’s newsletter I mentioned that the House was waiting for the committee report on the challenge of the election in House District 55. On Monday of this week, the Iowa House received the majority report of the committee along with a minority report. Monday evening, in floor action, the House took up the majority report...

The third week of session began with ice and snow and ended with as everyone knows, bitterly cold temperatures and wind chills. There were rumors floating around Tuesday morning that the Governor was going to shut down State Government for a few days because of the cold weather. ...

Twenty below has not happened in the seven years I have served in the Senate. But things were still hot in the Capitol. Subcommittees were meeting every day. I chaired two subcommittees on Thursday. SF 5 would remove the automatic property tax exemption for Forest Reserves. Arguments for and against the bill were made to the committee by 25 different representatives of groups involved with timber sales, soil conservation, and water quality to name a few...

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Ice conditions on Storm Lake are improving, but are still variable. Most areas of the lake have up to 15-18 inches of ice and have seen lots of fishing activity. Avoid ice along pressure seams, in the middle of the lake near the big island, and any other off colored ice in areas that were recently open water. ...

A Storm Lake Community School District educator is being honored for her impact on the next generation of teachers. Buena Vista University has named Kate Besch, a special education instructor at Storm Lake Elementary, its ESSI Mentor of the Year. Each year, the university’s special education majors and endorsement students nominate a standout mentor through ESSI, which stands for Exceptional Student Services and Instruction...

A grand opening and open house has been set for the new Buena Vista University Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Monday, February 11. At noon, President Josh Merchant will reveal the five-year Diversity and Inclusion Plan, followed by a ribbon cutting with light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. The open house will take place from noon - 5 p.m. in the Forum building on campus...

As Clay Central-Everly faces declining enrollment and ponders a choice between four potential districts to partner with, the area school among the suitors is prepared for the potential growth. “If they came to Sioux Central, I believe we could do very well taking in their student population,” Superintendent Scott Williamson told the Pilot-Tribune. “From what we understand, CC-E is still a long way from a decision.”...

STORM LAKE - Despite getting 17 points from senior Jake Heitman, the St. Mary’s Panthers fell apart late against Emmetsburg on Friday night, dropping a 63-39 decision. The E-Hawks got up early against the Panthers, holding a five-point edge after the first quarter, 15-10. St. Mary’s hung around in the second quarter and only trailed by six at halftime, 29-23...

ALTA - No school? No problem. The Alta-Aurelia boys didn’t practice the same as other schools across the state for a couple of days last week, and that showed no ill effect in their game on Thursday night. The Warriors were able to dispatch Emmetsburg, 57-44...

EVERLY/SIOUX RAPIDS - The Sioux Central boys got back on the court a few days after their first Twin Lakes Conference loss, and only second overall, on the year Thursday night in a non-conference tilt against Clay Central-Everly. The Rebels started a little slow but pulled away in the second quarter with a 70-33 victory...

STORM LAKE/SPIRIT LAKE - The Storm Lake girls shot well, rebounded, shared the ball and had all the other keys to success in hand on Thursday night. However, a few stretches of careless play with turnovers caused the green and white to drop a 69-49 decision against Western Christian...

RUTHVEN - The Newell-Fonda girls were back at it again on Saturday night in a make up contest against Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Aryshire. This was the third game in three nights for Newell-Fonda and they showed no ill effects from the heavy workload, taking a 69-34 decision against the Titans...

MANSON - After a few days of no school and no practice time, the Newell-Fonda boys basketball team was a little out of sorts to begin their contest Thursday night against Manson-NW Webster. The Mustangs were able to regain their composure after a rocky first half and picked up their 11th win after taking a 67-63 decision...

NEWELL - The top ranked team in 1A, Newell-Fonda, flexed their muscle against Alta-Aurelia in a Twin Lakes Conference contest on Friday night. The Mustangs jumped out to a huge lead in the opening minutes of the game and never looked back in an 84-23 victory...

NEWELL - It was a fight to the final horn on Friday night between the Alta-Aurelia and Newell-Fonda boys. Neither team had a lead bigger than seven and the end of every quarter saw a buzzer beater. In the end, the Warriors were able to walk away with a 61-60 victory against the Mustangs in a Twin Lakes Conference battle...

STORM LAKE/SPIRIT LAKE - Twelve years. That was the last time that Storm Lake had been able to defeat Western Christian on the basketball court. Streaks are meant to be broken and that is exactly what the green and white did on Thursday night against the Wolfpack, picking up their first win against Western Christian in the last 22 games, taking a 78-76 decision...

STORM LAKE - The Storm Lake wrestlers had one final dual on Thursday night ahead of their District meet on Feb. 9. The green and white manhandled the Denison-Schleswig Monarchs, 72-6. “I thought that we wrestled well in the matches that we did have. ...

Storm Lake Police were called to the Tyson pork plant early Saturday morning, where two pedestrians had been struck and injured by a vehicle. Officers located the female victims near the security office of the plant. One was suffering from serious upper body and facial injuries and the second had a leg injury. Both victims were transported by ambulance to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center for treatment...

The SUV involved in the Jan. 20 accident on Storm Lake that claimed the lives of Anthon man Zackary Newlon, 40, and his son Blaire, 8, was recovered by specialists Friday. Okoboji Underwater Recovery Specialists from Spirit Lake recovered the Nissan Xterra that fell through the ice, after rescheduling the recovery twice due to poor weather and ice conditions...